Rush a prisoner of what he has become

Rush Limbaugh has denied saying one quote in a string of them that I used in Sunday’s column. I found this particular passage in a story that appeared a few days earlier in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

I contacted an editor there, and he says they will run this in Wednesday’s editions:

“A quote in Bryan Burwell’s column Oct. 7 attributed to Rush Limbaugh about the merits of slavery in the United States came from the 2006 book “101 people who are really screwing up America” by John Huberman. The book does not provide specific details about the quote.

“Limbaugh, who is part of a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams, said Monday that he did not make that statement, which has been widely reported in recent days.

“The Post-Dispatch continues to research the origin of the quote.”

I tend to believe Limbaugh on this one. After all, he’s said so many other inflammatory things that he hasn’t denied. That’s the root of his problem now, and the crux of my Sunday column. It isn’t one statement he has said that will make NFL owners hesitate — it’s the polarizing aspect that has earned Limbaugh the very money he wants to invest.

On Sunday, hours after my column appeared, ESPN reported that the NFL Players’ Association would object to Limbaugh being part of an ownership group to buy the Rams. On Tuesday, commissioner Roger Goodell said Limbaugh’s “divisive” comments would not be tolerated, and Colts owner Jim Irsay said he would vote against Limbaugh.

“I, myself, couldn’t even consider voting for him,” Irsay said. “When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive … our words do damage, and it’s something that we don’t need.”

Neither the Players’ Association nor Goodell and Irsay feel this way because of one quote. They are reacting to Limbaugh’s history, and what he represents.

Jerry Jones, for example, can be a lightning rod. Some people don’t like him, and a lot of people question how he runs his football team. But he doesn’t alienate a specific demographic. If anything, he creates interest for those who root for and against the Cowboys.

Besides, does anyone know anything about Jones’ politics?

The NFL owners will react to this as they do everything: Would Limbaugh be good for business?

Another St. Louis columnist says this uproar is a waste of time. Limbaugh’s group, he put on Twitter, “isn’t a serious contender.”